Today I Learned

[Demystifier]

No wonder you never see them together in the same place at the same time!

 

[etotheipi]

TIL If you use the small angle approximation twice, it magically becomes exact again $$\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \cos{\theta} \, d\theta \approx \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} 1 \, d\theta = \left[\theta \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \approx \left[\sin{\theta} \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} = 1$$ It works for this one, so it's got to work for all of them, right?

 

[mfb]

$$\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \cos{\theta} \, d\theta \approx \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} 1 \, d\theta = \left[\theta \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \approx \left[\tan{\theta} \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} = \text{... wait}$$

 

[etotheipi]

$$\int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \cos{\theta} \, d\theta \approx \int_0^{\frac{\pi}{2}} 1 \, d\theta = \left[\theta \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \approx \left[\tan{\theta} \right]_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} = \text{... wait}$$

And that concludes our proof that $\infty = 1$!

 

[BillTre]

TIL that:
Human-remains detection (HRD) dogs, or cadaver dogs can detect human remains in archeological sites upto 2,000 years old.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/...te=1&user_id=5e9e0d67b7b00aecd626a3f1ac4f0f14

 

[Janus]

Today I learned the difference between Mitä and Mikä in Finnish.

As of recent, I taken a new interest in learning the language of my ancestors. I grew up hearing it spoken on a fairly regular basis, but never really learned it other than a few scattered words.
Mitä ( the ä is pronounced like the "a" in hat.) is one of the ones I thought I knew. It meant "what".

But I was seeing "mikä" being used for "what", and began to wonder if I had been hearing it wrong ( all my exposure to Finnish was via spoken word)

Today I learned that both words mean "what". It's just that they are used in different contexts.

Both
Mikä tämä on? and Mitä tämä on? mean "What is this?
But the answer you get would be different.
In the same situation,
"Mikä tämä on?" might get you the answer: "Tämä on pöytä." ( this is a table.)
While
"Mitä tämä on?" could get you an answer of "Tämä on tammi" (this is oak)

Mikä means means you are asking about the object, While mitä refers to what it is made of.

In essence Mikä is about a concrete object, while mitä is about substance or something abstract.

"Mitä tämä on?" could also give you answers like "Se on kahvia" ( "It's coffee" ), or "Se on rakkautta." ( It's love)

So, "Tänään opin" ("Today I learned ") that I hadn't heard it wrong after all.

 

[Adesh]

Today I learned (actually contemplated) that hate is always reciprocated but love seldomly.

 

[mfb]

Today I learned that Finnish needs an ä in every other word, at least if the small sample above is representative. It has 11 Finnish words, 5 of them have an ä, including one with two ä and one with three ä.
As a German I'm familiar with that letter, but it's not that common in German.

 

[forcefield]

Today I learned the difference between Mitä and Mikä in Finnish.

Not completely.

Today I learned that both words mean "what".

In your context, yes.

"Mitä tämä on?" could get you an answer of "Tämä on tammi tammea" (this is oak)

Was that a typo? "Tämä on tammi" could be answer to "Mikä tämä on?"

"Mitä tämä on?" could also give you answers like "Se on kahvia" ( "It's coffee" )

One can also say "Se on kahvia mikä maistuu hyvältä" ( "It's coffee which tastes good" ).
One would not say "Se on kahvia mitä maistuu hyvältä".

So, "Tänään opin" ("Today I learned ") that I hadn't heard it wrong after all.

Right.

 

[Janus]

Not completely.

In your context, yes.

Was that a typo? "Tämä on tammi" could be answer to "Mikä tämä on?"

One can also say "Se on kahvia mikä maistuu hyvältä" ( "It's coffee which tastes good" ).
One would not say "Se on kahvia mitä maistuu hyvältä".

Right.

Bear with me. I've just delved into this in the last couple of weeks. I know my explanation of the difference was most likely incomplete.

And if I make some errors in forming phrases it is due to my lack of experience with the language. While both of my parents did speak it, having learned it from their immigrant parents, they did not pass this knowledge onto us kids. As I said, my knowledge up to now has been limited to what it sounds like, and a handful of words. (Like how to properly pronounce "sauna". )

So, I think were I erred was, and correct me if I'm wrong, "tammi" would be used to refer to "an oak" ( as in an oak tree), whereas if I meant the type of wood something was made of, you would use "tammea"?

 

[forcefield]

So, I think were I erred was, and correct me if I'm wrong, "tammi" would be used to refer to "an oak" ( as in an oak tree), whereas if I meant the type of wood something was made of, you would use "tammea"?

Yes, "Se on tammea" means that it is made of oak. I wondered because all your other Finnish sentences were correct. My main point though was related to the usage of the words "mikä" and "mitä".

 

[Janus]

Yes, "Se on tammea" means that it is made of oak. I wondered because all your other Finnish sentences were correct. My main point though was related to the usage of the words "mikä" and "mitä".

Like I said, I'm early in my learning phase. And it really isn't a structured course, but a little "hit and miss".
I was actually very pleased with myself by the fact that when I saw the following example of the use of Mikä, without any translation given:

"Mikä sinun lempiväri on?"
"Minun lempiväri on punainen"

That I was able work out that it translated to
"What is your favorite color?"
"My favorite color is red."
Based on that I knew "sinä" was "you", "minä" was "I", "väri" was "color" and "punainen" was "red".
This is leaps and bounds beyond what I could have done just three weeks ago.

 

[sophiecentaur]

Today I learned that TV makes people more fat than they are in real.

I think this may be because the focal length of the lenses used in studios is often on the short side, to make use of studio space and for 'intimate shots'. That's not what you'd use for a flattering portrait - for standard 35mm negative, 80mm portrait lenses are favoured, compared with the standard 50mm. So this gives the impression that cheeks and jowls are bigger than you'd expect and, hence, you can't see as far round the sides of faces. An illusion of fatness. This could also apply to tummies too. (Also noses!)

 

[GiriBang]

about Google's database center

 

[Klystron]

Today I learned the term battler, meaning underdog; a person of modest means who strives to improve themselves.

At first I thought battler meant a war veteran in keeping with my state motto "Battle born!". Stripped of political connotations in keeping with PF policy, according to the cited article the Australian term refers affectionately to the low and middle caste in democratic society who battle or struggle to survive.

I imagine battler might refer to many PF users who strive to learn, help others learn and to communicate knowledge regardless of social standing.

 

[Adesh]

Today I learned how to write “Gauss” in German. It is written as $Gau\beta$. Haha! I learned it from here.

 

[fresh_42]

TIL that there is a special category in linguistics: Spock Speak:

Spock Speak is characterized, among other things, by the following special features: the extremely strict insistence on correct use of words and correct grammar. Almost total renunciation of contradictions. An almost ridiculous accuracy in numbers.
...
Roddenberry had flown a B17 bomber in World War II, and after the war he was a pilot with PanAm. The immature radios of the time made it difficult for the listener to distinguish between yes and no - affirmative ("confirmed") and negative ("negative") were more obvious. Standardized, precise language should also help pilots to express themselves clearly in emergency situations without thinking for a long time. This formulaic is reflected in Spock Speak: The Vulcan played by Leonard Nimoy reacts extraordinarily often with one-word sentences to all possible situations. English "indeed" can be both the answer to the sentence "I could use a coffee now" and a reaction to the statement "They will kill us all".

 

[Klystron]

'Radio Speak' also eliminates confusion. Static, squelch and otherwise poor communication often clips beginning of messages. "I know" is received as "...know" indistinguishable from the general negation "no". To be clear radio operators use "Negative" for "No".

Aside from the inherent sibilant, "Yes" remains less ambiguous. If clipped, note that "less" could be received as "yes". Hence the use of multi-syllabic "Affirmative".

To this day when answering important questions such as "Are you allergic to any medications?", I answer "Negative!". Lately I have dropped "affirmative" in favor of "yes" for affirmation. The extra syllable requires too much effort and also violates precepts of Simplicity.

 

[fresh_42]

'Radio Speak' also eliminates confusion. Static, squelch and otherwise poor communication often clips beginning of messages.

The misinformation caused by "clearance" versus "take-off" led (as a main reason) to one of the most severe airplane crashes in history KLM 4805 1977.

 

[Klystron]

The misinformation caused by "clearance" versus "take-off" led (as a main reason) to one of the most severe airplane crashes in history KLM 4805 1977.

Known to radar and radio people, and pilots as Tenerife, an abject lesson to us all.

 

[hmmm27]

army : "say again", because "repeat" is an artillery command.

 

[Hsopitalist]

Today I learned that in Indonesia folks will affix small devices to the feet of pigeons so when they fly it makes a whistling noise. The person who told me he had no idea why it was done.

 

[Keith_McClary]

A while ago I learned to sharpen knives with a stone.

TIL that one should be careful when washing very sharp knives.

 

[etotheipi]

In Suffolk you get these odd-looking crinkle-crankle walls; turns out it's not a waste of bricks, since the curvy shape means it doesn't require additional buttresses to resist lateral forces and prevent it from toppling!

 

[fresh_42]

In Suffolk you get these odd-looking crinkle-crankle walls; turns out it's not a waste of bricks, since the curvy shape means it doesn't require additional buttresses to resist lateral forces and prevent it from toppling!

View attachment 264087

I have experienced so narrow roads in the south west, that I wonder that they had the place for this. Do they have different habits in the east?

 

[Hsopitalist]

In Suffolk you get these odd-looking crinkle-crankle walls; turns out it's not a waste of bricks, since the curvy shape means it doesn't require additional buttresses to resist lateral forces and prevent it from toppling!

View attachment 264087

Suffolk in the US or UK?

 

[etotheipi]

Suffolk in the US or UK?

It's the UK one; I think there are 31 grade II listed walls of this type there .

I have experienced so narrow roads in the south west, that I wonder that they had the place for this. Do they have different habits in the east?

I'm not actually too sure, I've only ever visited that region about once or twice and can't really remember what the roads were like. Though I had remembered seeing a structure like this so I was quite surprised to see today that it had a purpose . I just did a google search and this guy has put together a list of "confirmed sightings" (everyone needs a hobby, I guess?).

It does seem like a fairly impractical idea space-wise!

 

[Hsopitalist]

It's the UK one; I think there are 31 grade II listed walls of this type there .I'm not actually too sure, I've only ever visited that region about once or twice and can't really remember what the roads were like. Though I had remembered seeing a structure like this so I was quite surprised to see today that it had a purpose . I just did a google search and this guy has put together a list of "confirmed sightings" (everyone needs a hobby, I guess?).

It does seem like a fairly impractical idea space-wise!

There must be examples up here in the Northeast then as well.

 

[fresh_42]

TIL that archeologists have found evidence of "first Americans" in Brazil which dates back 30,000 years.
And -14,500 for North America. So Clovis first is no longer valid.

 

[gmax137]

Suffolk in the US or UK?

In the US they are called "serpentine walls." The most well known (?) are at University of Virginia, designed by Thomas Jefferson.